Hors d'oeuvres - the latest, most interesting news

This part of our website has been prepared to extend our Railvolution news service. Its objective is to offer you snippets of the latest, most interesting news, accompanied by photos. On one hand this will let you to have a sneak preview of what the forthcoming number of Railvolution will contain. On the other, it will enable our editorial staff to provide you with information that is at their fingertips – and why waste exciting pieces of news while waiting until we have the printed version of the magazine ready for distribution? What is more, on the website pages we are in a position to publish photos for which there will be insufficient space in the printed magazine!

Please bear in mind that it is not our intention to 'digitalise' Railvolution! The printed magazine will still continue, with its full range of articles and news items. But we hope that you enjoy this new offering, and that it will stimulate your interest in our unique publication.

Dragons At Źmigród

In early June 2018 E6ACTa-001, the first of the new Dragon 2 family, was completed at Newag’s Nowy Sącz works. It was then moved to the OETD IK circuit in Źmigród, where between 18 June and 16 July it is being subjected to tests. The first photo, taken on 21 June, shows it together with PKP Cargo’s ET22-2024, 2023, 2021, 2007 and 1087.

At Źmigród the Dragon 2 met the original Dragon prototype built in 2009, E6ACT-001, which was recently modified to standardise it with the subsequent batch-built machines, and which had arrived there to start tests on 6 June. The second photo, taken that day, shows E6ACT-001 together with Koleje Dolnośląskie’s Newag-built Impuls’ EMU 45WE-021, while the third photo, taken on 17 June, shows both generations of prototype Dragons together.

WKD New EMUs

03 Mar 2016 16:22

In August 2014 Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa (WKD), which operates the suburban line to the southwest of the capital, awarded Newag a contract for six six-section EMUs, designated Type 39WE. The first, 39WE-001, was completed in February 2016 and sent to the OETD IK's test circuit near Żmigród. This photo was taken there on 29 February, showing the train alongside DB's future LINK DMU 633 001.

First Freightliner PL's Dragon

17 Feb 2016 12:54

On 6 February 2016 Newag's Gliwice works sent E6ACTd-101 to the IK’s Źmigród test circuit. This is the first of the batch of five Dragon electrics ordered by Freightliner PL. By the end of February the locomotive is expected to have realised dynamic tests involving the new auxiliary diesel and the increased tractive effort. Three of the Dragons are scheduled for delivery by May, with the last two following by the end of July 2016.

NEB LINKs On Test

06 Nov 2015 00:41

In September 2013 Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn ordered from PESA seven two-car and two three-car 140 km/h LINK DMUs. At present authorisation testing is taking place in Poland. The photo shows 632-021 at the Źmigród test circuit on 20 October 2015.

KM Double Deck Carriages On Test At Źmigród

On 5 October 2015 PESA’s new double deck carriages arrived at the OETD IK test centre in Źmigród. The Koleje Mazowieckie future stock comprised GAMA electric locomotive 111Eb-001 and two types of carriage, 416B and 316B (intermediate car and driving trailer respectively). These photos were taken on the first day of tests, 6 October.

First PESA’s Double Decker On Test

17 Sep 2015 09:12

Between 31 August and 14 September a first Type 416B double deck carriage built by PESA for Koleje Mazowieckie visited the Źmigród test circuit. The photo shows 416B-001 there, together with the KM’s TRAXX 5 170 001, on 1 September 2015.

PKP IC's Latest EMUs At Źmigród

In mid-June 2015 the OETD IK test circuit in Żmigród hosted two of the latest types of EMU ordered by PKP InterCity. The first of the 20 eight-car FLIRT 3 EMUs being built by the Stadler/Newag consortium has been undergoing authorisation testing there since April, now simultaneously with PESA's first DART EMU, the first of 20 eight-car trains of this type, which arrived there on 23 May.

These photos were taken on 10 June 2015. The first shows the FLIRT of future Class 215 during the braking tests. The second shows the DART, ED161-001, realising the noise measurement tests. The third view is of both trains at the test circuit base. The platform on the right of the DART is a new structure, for the use of guests during varaious events. The final photo shows the FLIRT 3 passing the lifted branch line which was used to serve the premises of the Żmigród branch of the Instytut Badawczy Dróg i Mostów (Roads and Bridges Research Institute).

RZD Talgo At Źmigród

RZD’s variable-gauge Talgo rake, which has so far been tested in Germany and also at VUZ’s test circuit at Velim in the Czech Republic, arrived in Poland on 15 March 2015 for testing there. The first two photos of this series show it hauled by EU07-167 at Źmigród station and on the connecting line to the OETD IK test circuit, while the third view shows the train having reached its destination.

DBSRP's Vectron Deliveries Complete

Early February 2015, DB Schenker Rail Polska's 5170 054, 055, 056 and 057 reached the OETD IK Źmigród test circuit, completing the order for 23 Vectrons. The first photo taken on 5 February 2015, shows 5 170 054 there, with a ŁKA FLIRT3 EMU 2 140 343/344. In the second photo we see 5 170 055 together with a PKP IC Husarz 5 370 007, the latter being used for testing of a Type 171A carriage following its refurbishing at PESA.

A Two-Car Acatus Plus EMU At Źmigród

25 Nov 2014 21:57

PESA is currently realising the certification of a two-car Type 41WE (Class EN99) Acatus Plus EMU. Four of these trains, together with six three-car Type 40WE (Class EN 64) EMUs, were ordered on 18 October 2014 by Województwo Małopolskie. All ten Acatus Plus trains are to be used by a new provincial company, Koleje Małopolskie, founded in December 2013, from 14 December 2014 on services between Kraków Główny and Wieliczka Rynek-Kopalnia, adjacent to the world-famous salt mine. Here we see Koleje Małopolskie's EN99-001 together with ŁKA's FLIRT 3 EMU 2 140 343/344 at Źmigród on 20 November 2014.